Understanding a Brain Injuries By Region

Understanding the Brain

It is important to understand how the brain functions in order to understand what takes place when the brain is injured. The brain is made up of neurons (nerve cells) and is enclosed inside a bony structure (the skull) which acts as a protective barrier. The neurons in our brain synapse, and send messages to our body to perform different tasks. The messages that are sent all over the body allow the body to function properly and naturally. Some tasks include coordinating breathing, heart rate, temperature, metabolism, movement, behavior, personality, and the senses. Each part of the brain is responsible for the connection of specific responses all over the body and most brain injuries affect several different areas of the brain.

Regions of the Brain

The brain has three main regions: the cerebellum, the brain stem and the cerebrum. All three regions work together. However, they have specific functions.

Brain Stem: The brain stem is the lower part of the brain and it extends to the spinal cord. It is responsible for controlling breathing, heart rate, arousal, consciousness, sleep functions, and attention concentration through twelve cranial nerves.

Cerebellum: The cerebellum is found under the lower back of the skull. It is divided into a right and left side, which handles two different functions: maintaining balance and coordinating movement.

Cerebrum: The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and it is divided into two regions, right and left hemispheres. The right side of the brain receives information from the left, and controls movement of the left side of the brain. The left side of the brain does the same for the right. The dominant side (usually the left side for right-handed people) controls speech, understanding, reading, writing, and other functions. The non-dominant side processes non-verbal information including special orientation, relationships of objects to each other and recognition of shapes, forms and faces. The hemispheres are then divided further into lobes: parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital.

Functions of the Brain

The brain is divided into functional sections called lobes (Frontal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Occipital Lobe, the Cerebellum, and the Brain Stem).

Each has a specific function, as described below:

Frontal Lobe Functions

Attention and Concentration

Speaking (expressive language)

Self-monitoring

Organization

Initiation

Motor planning

Speaking (expressive language)

Awareness of abilities and limitations

Personality

Mental flexibility

Inhibition of behavior

Emotions

Problem solving

Planning and anticipation

Judgment

Temporal Lobe Functions

Memory

Hearing

Understanding language

Organization

Sequencing

Parietal Lobe Functions

Sense of touch

Special perception

Differentiation of size, shapes and color

Visual perception

Occipital Lobe Functions

Vision

Cerebellum Lobe Functions

Balance

Skilled motor activity

Coordinating

Visual perception

Brain Stem Functions

Breathing

Arousal and consciousness

Attention and concentration

Heart rate

Sleep and wake cycles

Right or Left Brain Functions

The functional sections or lobes of the brain are also divided into right and left sides, which are responsible for different functions. General patterns of dysfunction can occur if an injury is on the right or left side of the brain.